The Month in Photos: January 2011

Samara Lucero, right, age 13, shares a laugh with fellow gymnast Lilly Joslin, age 11, as they partake in a "bridge war" during practice on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the Wyoming School of Gymnastics. The activity involves gymnasts walking around in a bridge stretch position trying to knock fellow competitors out until one gymnast is left. James Brosher/staff

A bison waits to be weighed and counted at a ranch near the Colorado/Wyoming border on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. Boyd Meyer, who owns Cold Creek Buffalo Company, says bison meat prices have risen from $2.40 a pound last year to $3.30 a pound this year. Michael Smith/staff

East's Savannah Minder drives to the basket and puts up a shot during a game against Gering on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at East High School. James Brosher/staff

Triumph High School student Veronica Hodgins, 17, right, laughs after throwing a pie in the face of English teacher Ashlee Peyton during an end of quarter celebration organized by the student government on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, at the high school. The pie throwing was a fundraiser for Skills USA, a school-wide club focusing on career and technical education, wherein students and others bid on the privilege to throw a pie. The event also featured student-performed sketches, a basketball game between students and faculty and other activities. Jerret Raffety/staff

Gov. Matt Mead, left, takes the Oath of Office from Marilyn Kite, chief justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court, right, with his wife, Carol Mead, center left, and his daughter, Mary Mead, 12, center right, at his side during the Wyoming State Inauguration 2011 on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at the Cheyenne Civic Center. Jerret Raffety/staff

Jeff Wright, dressed as Elvis, performs a move from the king for bartender Nicholas Bulman during the Celebrity Waiter Dinner on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at the Holiday Inn. The dinner had local celebrities dressed in costumes working as waiters to help raise money for Safehouse Services. Michael Smith/staff

Faith Wright, 10, is seen from under a set of bleachers as she and others, not shown, practice their vertical jump at the gym on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, at Cheyenne's South High School. Wright said that watching the high schoolers play basketball in the gym that afternoon inspired her to practice her vertical jump. Jerret Raffety/staff

Surrounded by attendees to the 85th Anniversary Celebration of the congregation of the First Christian Church, senior pastor Kurt Borgaard, second to right, reacts as he burns mortgage papers on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, for a house and parking lot behind the church because the property is paid for and now owned by the church and burning the documents symbolizes accomplishment and faith. Part of the lessons taught within the church are about living within one's means and trusting in God's ability to provide, Borgaard said. The anniversary celebration for the congregation also featured food, music and a discussion of the history of the church and congregation. Jerret Raffety/staff

Local Cheyenne boxer Isaiah Tafoya takes a break from punching the heavy bag at practice on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, in Storey Gym. The 13 year old will be competing in the Regional Silver Gloves boxing tournament later this week. Michael Smith/staff

Kolby Shay Moon, 4, gets a little help from his father, Colt, as he learns how to ride a motorcycle on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, in a field of College Drive . Colt mentioned that he had training wheels for the motorcycle but riding with his son worked better. Michael Smith/staff

The Rev. Rodger McDaniel walks from the Laramie County Public Library to COMEA House on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. McDaniel, the preacher at the Highlands United Presbyterian Church, spent a week living as a homeless person in Cheyenne after retiring from his position in former Gov. Dave Freudenthal's administration. His idea to become homeless for a week came from a series of sermons telling his congregation to get out of their comfort zones. James Brosher/staff

Missias Ferreira is reflected in a mirror as he lifts weights on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, at the Cheyenne Family YMCA. "This is my hobby," Ferreira said. "This is my sport." Jerret Raffety/staff

From left, Kendra Redding, 9, Thomas Redding and others hold signs paying respects to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after about 250 marchers walked from the former Union Pacific depot in downtown Cheyenne to the State CapitolÕs front steps on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, in remembrance of King. Jerret Raffety/staff

A horse warms itself in the morning sun on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2011, in a field of College Drive. Michael Smith/staff

Avery Bott, age 9, reacts as a hair dresser cuts a large lock of her hair off during a student assembly on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011, at Sunrise Elementary. Three students from the school donated their hair to the charity in honor of second grade teacher Heather Blakely-Voyles who has taken a leave of absence from teaching as she battles cancer. James Brosher/staff

Brenda Salverson, owner of the Quilted Corner, emerges from behind a quilt covering the entryway to her office on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011, at the downtown store. The store is selling 30 machine and hand-made quilts from local quilter Sarah May Robinson through Jan. 22. James Brosher/staff

Guernsey State Park employee Terry Lee knocks snow off a tree on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, near the State Museum. Lee was making snow for the Wyoming Kids Extreme Ice Festival that will be taking place this weekend. Michael Smith/staff

Cheyenne South's Jamie Andersen (30) runs onto the court as she is introduced as a starter before a game against Wheatland on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011, at South High School. James Brosher/staff

Wyoming State Museum exhibit designer Larry Lujan moves a painting of former Governor and Senator, Francis E. Warren, on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, into the office of current Governor Matt Mead. Warren was the state's first governor and will one of many portraits of Wyoming Governors the new Governor's office. Michael Smith/staff

Cheyenne East's Lexi Hawkins, second from right, looses the handle on a rebound in front of Central's Mo Chavez (5) and Christie Schiel (22) and East's Meghan Sipe (23) during the East-Central rivalry game on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011, at Storey Gym. James Brosher/WyoSports

Sienna Jung, age 5, sings along with a group of 19 children from the St. Mary's School after a book reading by Wyoming First Lady Carol Mead on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011, in the Wyoming State Capitol rotunda. The first lady read "Little Wyoming" to the youngsters. James Brosher/staff

Jon Goodman jumps into the water of the Sloans Lake on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011, in Cheyenne as part of the Cheyenne Jackalope Jump, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Wyoming. The organization provides year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, according to a Special Olympics Wyoming release. Jerret Raffety/staff

Miller Elementary student Andrew Lane reacts after realizing he misspelled a word during the Laramie County Spelling Bee on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at Laramie County Community College. Despite the missed word Lane placed 5th in the competition. Michael Smith/staff

Rock Spring resident Joe Iliya takes a break from fishing to skate on the ice on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2011, at the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in western Wyoming. Strong winds and cold weather created difficult conditions for ice fisherman however over over 400 contestants participated in the Ding-a-Ling Ice Fishing Derby. Michael Smith/staff

Three cats named Missy, Tuffy and Princess cuddle together for warmth on a bale of hay in a barn on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at Iron Mountain Bison Ranch. Ranch hand George Parr said the cats just showed up one day day when they were kittens and the ranch hands have been taking care of them ever since. Michael Smith/staff